HBA Global Expo Recap

Posted: October 5, 2009

Attendance at the 17th Annual HBA Global Expo (Sept. 15–17, 2009) was up almost 5%, according to show organizers, with a strong increase in buyer attendees for the exhibits and for the first time crossover registration with the Spa & Resort/Medical & Aesthetics Expo.

Audience and event highlights included:

21% of the 16,266 HBA audience were buying teams from major brand manufacturers

HBA started off on a high note with its largest keynote audience since Leonard Lauder in 2002. Horst Rechelbacher, CEO of Intelligent Nutrients and founder of Aveda, spoke passionately about the naturals and organic market. He urged attendees to be authentic in their product development and bring truth to the consumer customer base.

Following his address, Lisa Price, founder of Carol's Daughter, presented the first annual HBA Positively Beautiful Award to nine-Grammy Award winner and actress, Mary J. Blige. Upon accepting the award, Blige thanked Price for making her feel beautiful from the inside out and said, "I'm so honored to be receiving this award from HBA. Beauty is not about the physical; it's about the light that you'll reflect from within."